Cross On Scotland Ambition

Geoff Cross announced his pleasure after being selected for Scotland’s 33-man squad for the opening RBS 6 Nations match against Wales on Sunday 8 February (kick off 3pm) and says his main target for 2009 is to win his first international cap.The powerhouse prop, 26, has made 12 starts so far this season in Edinburgh’s number three jersey and his progress has caught the eye of the national team’s head coach Frank Hadden.As a result, the former Gala Academy student says he is elated with the call-up and will be gunning for his first-ever taste of Test rugby.Cross said: I am pleased to be given another opportunity to work at international level with the Scotland squad. I am planning on taking that opportunity and working towards winning my first cap.’this has been a good season for me. The important thing for me to do is to keep pressing forward with my game understanding and improving upon that.In terms of targets for the season, I wanted to break into the Scotland set-up and become more of a greater presence in the Edinburgh team by being more involved. ‘so far my Edinburgh objective has gone according to plan and with Scotland it is heading in the right direction.At the same stage last season, Cross had only made five starts for Edinburgh and was hovering on the periphery of first team duties which underlines his phenomenal progress achieved over the past year.But Cross believes he is unable to pinpoint one exact factor which has triggered his career transformation, but stressed he is always keen to study his performances.He added: Im not sure what the secret is behind my progress. What I try to do though is undertake my basic tasks well. That means winning collisions and being a solid defender.Going through match videos on my own, with other players or with my coaches has been really helpful to allow me to understand what Im doing well and what aspects of my game are improving. Also it highlights the aspects that I need to improve on.Scotland squad (sponsor Murray) to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Sunday 8 February at Murrayfield, kick-off 3pm_Backs Mike Blair CAPTAIN, Ben Cairns (both Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Thom Evans, Max Evans (both Glasgow Warriors), Phil Godman (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Rory Lawson (Gloucester), Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks (both Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson, Hugo Southwell and Simon Webster (all Edinburgh)_Forwards John Barclay, Kelly Brown (both Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Scott Gray (Northampton Saints), Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Craig Hamilton, Jim Hamilton (both Edinburgh), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Allister Hogg, Allan Jacobsen (both Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Simon Taylor (Stade Francais), Jason White (Sale Sharks).